Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Lemon Balm For Anxiety � Does It Work?

Anxiety is a feeling of being worried. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time due to life experiences but those with generalized anxiety disorder feel anxious more frequently or excessively. Anxiety can result from specific causes like an underlying medical condition or a particular drug. Now, what is lemon balm for anxiety? How effective is lemon balm for anxiety? The answers to these questions shall be clear in the subsequent paragraphs.

What is lemon balm and what are its available forms?

Lemon balm is a herb. Its scientific name is Melissa Officinalis. The active components in lemon balm are Flavonoids, Tannins, and Phenolic acids. It is a member of the Mint family and is often referred to as the "calming herb�. Traditionally, Lemon Balm has been used for relieving feelings of nervous agitation, anxiety, stress and gastrointestinal discomfort. Studies report that Lemon Balm also helps in improving cognitive performance, like attention and memory. Lemon balm for anxiety is available as a dried leaf that can be bought in bulk or as a tea, in capsules, extracts, tinctures and oil.

Lemon balm for anxiety

The primary phyto-chemicals in Lemon Balm are thought to work synergistically and effectively reduce stress. It also helps in improving mood and enhancing mental functions. Several studies show that lemon balm combined with other calming herbs (such as valerian) helps reduce anxiety levels and promote sleep. However not many studies have investigated the safety and effectiveness of oral lemon balm for anxiety. For instance, in one recent study of people with anxiety, those who ingested an herbal combination of valerian and lemon balm reported better results than those who ingested only lemon balm. It is effective because it works on the following -
�Tension and nervous agitation
�Occasional anxiety and related overactive behavior
�Restlessness and sleep difficulties
�Mild mood fluctuations
�Cognitive functions like memory and attention

Lemon balm for anxiety � is it safe?

To date, medical literature has not reported any adverse events related to the use of Lemon Balm as a dietary supplement in children. However, it is always recommended to consult with a professional healthcare provider before administering lemon balm for anxiety. Also lemon balm for anxiety is a better option as compared to other medications as it is herbal and has less side-effect.